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haha · 04-23-2009, 08:11 PM

MLS Northwest Reports (502)=

The modern looking structure behind it is a new house, built on the back half of this already tiny lot. But you can get a taxpayer subsidized mortgage rate.

CuppaJoe · 04-23-2009, 08:21 PM

Ooh, I love doll houses.

haha · 04-23-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CuppaJoe

Ooh, I love doll houses.

Oh, are you serious?

I was joking about this place. A hundred year old tiny bungalow on a miniature lot for $299,000. A few years ago some old lady was living in one of these in Ballard. A builder had assembled every lot he needed to build a condo complex except hers. She didn't want to move so she kept turning down his increasingly generous offers. I think the final offer was $750,000 or so, which she turned down too. So he just built his complex around her.

As far as I knew she is still alive and living there.

Ha

mn54 · 04-23-2009, 08:38 PM

300k for a 2BR, 1 BA house on a 50 x 50 foot lot? I hope there's a lot of oil underneath that house.

Urchina · 04-23-2009, 08:51 PM

Viewed from 1500 miles south, that looks like a great reason to move north. Much more reasonable housing prices.

lhamo · 04-23-2009, 10:33 PM

I'm sorry, but they are smoking something really strong if they think they will get 300k for that. I used to live a few blocks from there. It is an ok neighborhood, but not within walking distance of the Ballard business district. You can walk to Zestos, though -- is that worth 300K? Might get hit by a truck crossing 15th, though -- that street has nasty traffic and lots of accidents at that corner (15th and 65th).

The Redfin listing has more pictures, and links to recent sales -- I guess Ballard really gentrified since I lived there! Can't imagine people paying so much to live there.

1710 NW 61 St, Seattle, WA 98107 | MLS# 29050224

lhamo

haha · 04-23-2009, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lhamo

I'm sorry, but they are smoking something really strong if they think they will get 300k for that. I used to live a few blocks from there. It is an ok neighborhood, but not within walking distance of the Ballard business district. You can walk to Zestos, though -- is that worth 300K? Might get hit by a truck crossing 15th, though -- that street has nasty traffic and lots of accidents at that corner (15th and 65th).

The Redfin listing has more pictures, and links to recent sales -- I guess Ballard really gentrified since I lived there! Can't imagine people paying so much to live there.

1710 NW 61 St, Seattle, WA 98107 | MLS# 29050224

lhamo

Ballard is a very popular neighborhood. It's the first place I lived when I came to Seattle many years ago. It is very different now. Same old stuff, plus some condos- but it all costs way more, and is owned by DINK lawyers instead of fishermen and welders.

As to location- this is about a 5 minute walk at most from Market Street and what I suppose would be called the Ballard Business District (Bay Theater, Starbucks, etc.) and only 7 or 8 minutes from the bars and clubs just south of Market on Ballard Avenue. Hard to get much closer.

Here's the Ballard secret- it's close to downtown, reasonably close to the University with good bus service to both- and it is mostly professionals. At the same time, it is much cheaper than some other neighborhoods that have those traits.

Ha

Ed_The_Gypsy · 04-23-2009, 10:56 PM

lamp.jpg

I like the ceiling lamp. $300k buys a lot of style.

Welcome to Seattle.

(Thanks REWahoo for teaching me how to upload pix!)

FANOFJESUS · 04-23-2009, 11:12 PM

WOW and almost $2800 in taxes. Did any body see the square foot of that mansion?

lhamo · 04-24-2009, 12:19 AM

I guess you're right, ha -- it probably isn't that far to walk. It used to take me about 15 minutes to walk to Ballard Market (we lived on 67th and 14th). Been living in Beijing too long and it has totally messed up my concept of how long it takes to walk a block (here many blocks are about 1km long...). Actually I did know Ballard has been gentrifying. We moved there in 1990 from the Wallingford/Fremont area, when we got gentrified out of that neighborhood (used to live just off Stone Way at 41st). Moved out in 1993, so I am seriously dated in my valuations, I know. But it still stuns me that such tiny places can ask such high prices. These people are taking a serious haircut, though -- bought the place for 370k just over a year ago. Geesh. If it were on Phinney with a view, maybe, but not with that other house towering over it...

lhamo

F4mandolin · 04-24-2009, 07:46 AM

Pssst, Spokane...... we were going to look at this place last summer but bought a place about 6 miles closer to Spokane. Price has come down at least $50k since last summer. MLS# 29015695 I still have relatives in W Seattle, but just too expensive and too wet for me.....and traffic......oh, and too many people. But considering I would stay here and retire in N Yorkshire if I could afford it....better shut my mouth.

W2R · 04-24-2009, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haha

Here's the Ballard secret- it's close to downtown, reasonably close to the University with good bus service to both- and it is mostly professionals.

That explains it. I can't imagine paying that kind of price for that house, UNLESS I needed to be there in order to be acceptably close to my job. It sounds like there is considerable demand in that area by those who have jobs close by.

Luckily, I will be retired in 199 days

and being close to a good job will not be a factor in choosing my ER house. Apparently the absence of that constraint could save me a couple of hundred thousand bucks, which I will enjoy spending on whatever I wish.

Martha · 04-24-2009, 08:06 AM

I think the little house is cute enough but the big out of character looming house in the back would be a deal killer.

W2R · 04-24-2009, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martha

I think the little house is cute enough but the big out of character looming house in the back would be a deal killer.

I wouldn't want to live on a 50'x50' lot, either. That is TINY.

Right now my lot is 50'x100' and that is just too narrow. I feel as though my neighbors are far too close, even though they are ideal neighbors.

I think that I will be happier on a lot that is at least 80'-100' wide, and hopefully my next house will be on a larger lot like that or else my next door neighbor will be Frank.

FANOFJESUS · 04-24-2009, 08:25 AM

We have house like that in MO for 50K.

FinanceDude · 04-24-2009, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed_The_Gypsy

Attachment 6146

I like the ceiling lamp. $300k buys a lot of style.

Welcome to Seattle.

(Thanks REWahoo for teaching me how to upload pix!)

I have that same light in my house. I got it at a lighting wholesaler on closeout for $80........

Moemg · 04-24-2009, 08:27 AM

Or you could save a few bucks and buy this
1719 Gondola Park Dr # 1719, Venice, FL, 34292 - MLS ID#N5764189 - Condo/Townhome/Row Home/Co-Op real estate - REALTOR.com®

hakuna matata · 04-24-2009, 08:58 AM

I used to live on Phinney. Bought an old craftsman there in 1990 for $120,000 and when I sold it, it had doubled in price. I used that money to move over to the west side of Puget Sound and commute via the ferry. At that time I was able to purchase a brand new home with double the square footage for $180,000 here in Kitsap County.

I have been doing that commute for almost 10 years now and even out here the prices have increased, but nothing like Seattle proper.

What I enjoy about living here in my small little town (pop 8810-salute!) is that I get to raise my daughter in a small town with small town values, but Seattle is right there. It is a one hour drive if we take the long way around, or 35 minutes to take a ferry over.

I work downtown and as an Architect I need to be near a larger community in order to survive--but I like small rural towns. Currently we live on about an acre with a house that is 1800 SF and is worth about $230K. We also own 5 acres that we have toyed with building a house on.

So anyone contemplating moving up to the Northwest-I would suggest you look at the communities in Kitsap: Port Orchard, Bremerton, Gig Harbor, Poulsbo, Port Townsend, etc. Cheaper then Seattle, but close enough that you can enjoy the cultural and other aspects of the bigger city if/when you want to.